Moto Guzzi Le Mans cafe racer

A new build from Kaffeemaschine is always worth looking out for. Hamburg-based Axel Budde designs some of the world’s best custom Moto Guzzis, and his eighth creation doesn’t disappoint.

The bike was built for Guillaume Bureau, who lives in Switzerland. “He wanted a pure cafe racer,” says Budde, “with a moderate riding position and space for a pillion too.” The donor bike was a Le Mans Mk II; Budde gave it a complete mechanical overhaul before handing it over to HTMoto for performance tuning. It’s now sporting a dynamically balanced crank assembly, and a 1000cc capacity—an 18% increase over the stock Le Mans.

The Guzzi is also running electronic ignition and a handmade, stainless steel exhaust system. It’s fitted with Morad aluminum rims and upgraded suspension: Ikon shocks at the back, FAC internals in the forks up front. The brake system was rebuilt using modern cylinders, stainless hoses and a new rear caliper.

“The aluminum parts are handmade and sanded semi-matt, as usual,” says Budde. “I brushed the tank and fenders this time though, to match the rough wrinkle paint on the valve and generator covers.” The frame has been cleaned up and refinished in classic black, a marked improvement on occasionally poor 1970s Italian frame finishing. The handcrafted seat has been upholstered in leather, with leather grips to match, and a simple, stylish Motogadget instrument is connected to a custom-built wiring loom.

Kaffeemaschine’s success means that Budde is now making small runs of custom parts. If you want to add a touch of café racer magic to your own Guzzi, keep an eye on the Kaffeemaschine website and Facebook page for details.